Synonyms of wax

wax 1 of 2

verb (1)

1

as in to grease

to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction

waxing a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grease
• oil
• lubricate
• slick
• wash
• wet
• soak
• water
• bathe
• drench
• douse
• dowse
• souse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• roughen
• dry
• coarsen
• sear
• dehydrate
• parch

2

as in to cream

slang to defeat by a large margin

I can't believe I bet on a football team that ended up getting waxed 45-0

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cream
• shellac
• whip
• skin
• trim
• bomb
• bury
• overcome
• dust
• paste
• smoke
• master
• throw
• flatten
• blow away
• snow under
• smother
• rout
• top
• beat
• upset
• annihilate
• thrash
• clobber
• trounce
• take
• skunk
• beat the pants off
• wallop
• overwhelm
• drub
• eat alive
• whup
• cap
• run circles around
• run rings around
• sweep
• surpass
• destroy
• whap
• exceed
• wipe the floor with
• lick
• score
• succeed
• whomp
• wipe the ground with
• whop
• conquer
• best
• dispatch
• crush
• better
• worst
• tromp
• finish
• prevail (over)
• win (against)
• triumph (over)
• subdue
• overbear
• slaughter
• surmount
• hurdle
• eclipse
• subjugate
• overtop
• vanquish
• overthrow
• knock over
• ace (out)
• transcend
• excel
• outdo
• overpower
• edge (out)
• flourish
• outshine
• outstrip
• knock off
• upend
• outdistance
• pip
• break
• overmatch
• sink
• nose out
• outfight
• do in

wax

2 of 2

verb (2)

1

as in to increase

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

the commitment of the young volunteers to the cause seems to wax and wane

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increase
• rise
• swell
• accelerate
• climb
• expand
• mushroom
• balloon
• roll up
• accumulate
• multiply
• intensify
• spread
• snowball
• mount
• boom
• proliferate
• bourgeon
• surge
• gain
• build up
• enlarge
• escalate
• appreciate
• jump
• rocket
• burgeon
• heighten
• bulk
• skyrocket
• peak
• puff (up)
• redouble
• distend
• inflate
• blow up
• crest
• crescendo

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease
• contract
• diminish
• recede
• lessen
• wane
• dwindle

2

as in to become

to eventually have as a state or quality

waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• become
• get
• grow
• go
• come
• turn
• run
• change
• modify
• transform
• alter
• metamorphose
• transmute
• mutate
• transfigure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• be
• remain
• continue
• stay
• linger
• abide

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wax

Verb

Maresca’s trust in the former Fulham defender has waxed and waned this season, though he has been widely credited for bringing leadership and personality to a young squad. —Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025

Stories where a filmmaker’s life was changed forever, and waxed poetic about distributors running out mid-screening to plead their cases for acquiring eventual hit. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025

Venus will be near its maximum brightness, while the moon is both in its waxing crescent phase and at its monthly 'perigee'—its closest approach to Earth—10,500 miles nearer than average at 228,000 miles. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025

The federal workforce has waxed and waned over the years, but its size today puts it on the same footing as during the 1980s, when the U.S. population was about 220 million. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025

Phrases Containing wax

• ball of wax